COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Huckleberry House Sleep Out returned Friday to raise money and spread awareness for people experiencing homelessness in central Ohio.
This year, it was held at Chase Plaza in front of the Lower.com Field. Dozens of people brought their sleeping bags and tents to spend the night there.
The annual event is hosted by Huckleberry House and raises money for the organization, which provides shelter, support and guidance to youth navigating challenges.
According to the Community Shelter Board, in the first three months of this year compared to the first three months of last year, they saw a 10% increase in the number of youth under the age of 18 experiencing homelessness in Columbus.
Huckleberry House reports that 3,000 youth ages 12-24 are unstably housed or homeless in Franklin County every year.
Some of the people participating in the event include Ohio State football players, Columbus City Councilmember Shayla Favor, and CEOs of various organizations that support people experiencing homelessness including the Community Shelter Board and Kaleidoscope.
The event took place from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday morning.